Bradford 2025 launches Our Patch, and unveils David Hockney as the first artist for DRAW!
Published January 16, 2025
Bradford 2025 is ensuring as many people as possible can get involved in creative activities celebrating the district with the launch of two new initiatives.
Our Patch is a large-scale district-wide programme that will celebrate the creativity, untold stories, talents, and traditions that make the vast Bradford district unique, spanning all five Bradford constituencies— Bradford East, Bradford South, Bradford West, Keighley/ Ilkley and Shipley.
Through partnerships between local artists, community organisations and residents, Our Patch breaks down barriers to cultural participation by bringing the arts right to the community’s doorstep. Whether through a creative residency making music with care home residents or Bollywood dance classes at local community centres, Our Patch will bring a touch of magic to everyday life, fostering connections and a stronger sense of community across Bradford District.
It launches as news of David Hockney as the first artist for DRAW! is announced, inviting people across the world to take part by drawing ‘something you find beautiful’.
This could be anything around you that you find beautiful, inspired by his front cover of the Bradford District telephone directory which he was invited to design in 1989. The drawing depicts a charming picture of where he was born – a deep valley with mills, terraced houses, City Hall and a little blue bus.
The public can share their drawings by uploading them to bradford2025.co.uk/mydrawing or share them through social media with the hashtag #bradford2025. People can send in their drawings until 31 January, when a new artist and theme for February will be announced. A selection of drawings will be displayed on the Bradford 2025 website each month and finally in an exhibition during Bradford 2025 in December.
David Hockney said “The world is very, very beautiful if you look at it, but most people don’t look very much – Looking at the world is good for you.”
Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025 says “We know that in Bradford, there is creativity in every single step of our 141 square mile district. By placing artists right in the heart of our communities, we will ensure that local people can be part of making, creating, performing and being a part of the UK City of Culture!
“Furthermore, I am delighted to announce David Hockney as the first artist for DRAW! This nationwide project is a call out to the UK to join Bradford 2025 in exploring and celebrating our own creativity through the joy of drawing. Drawing is the first creative thing we learn to do, and I want people across the world – inspired by David Hockney – to rediscover this activity of expression. So pick up a pen, pencil, paintbrush, chalk, charcoal, use software, or a post-it note, just get involved and send us your sketches, doodles and works of art!”
Phil Chamberlain, England Director – Strategy, Partnerships and Engagement, at The National Lottery Community Fund, states: “As the UK’s largest funder of community activity, we know how important local volunteers are, and we are passionate about the role they can play in stimulating cultural engagement and conversation through the creative arts.
We’re proud to be supporting Bradford 2025 and its Our Patch programme, which is taking a hugely collaborative approach to grass roots arts participation and ensuring a creative legacy for the city that has communities at its heart.”
Bradford 2025 has been running a pilot version of Our Patch supported by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation working with MAPA in Bradford East, Equality Together at Manningham Mills Community Association in Bradford West, TFD Centre in Bradford South, Keighley Creative in Keighley & Ilkley, and The Bolton Woods Centre in Shipley amongst other organisations since August 2024.
Gemma Hobbs, Bradford 2025 Community Connector for Keighley & Ilkley said “It’s not the ‘WOW’ factor of the Bradford 2025 programme – it’s about the wonderful everyday. What makes us proud of where we live and our communities, and how we can make this even stronger – and the place artists and creative people can have in supporting, uncovering and challenging this!”
Nathan Wilson, Centre Manager, The Bolton Woods Centre “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed having one of Bradford 2025’s Community Connectors at The Bolton Woods Centre. The Our Patch team’s involvement with our team has sparked so much creativity, and their dedication has gone above and beyond our expectations. They’ve been instrumental in building strong community connections and offering support wherever it’s needed. We’re genuinely excited to continue working together to bring something truly special to the BD2, BD18, and surrounding areas.”
Our Patch is generously supported by the National Lottery Community Fund and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation giving Bradford 2025 the ability to expand the Community Connector programme and allowing the initiative to run right through 2025 and beyond.
Find out more about Our Patch at bradford2025.co.uk/programme/our-patch/
ENDS